UKRI
Salary: £46,743 per annum.
Band: UKRI Band E.
Contract Type: Open Ended.
Hours: Full-time.
Location: Swindon, Wiltshire - Hybrid working available, Minimum 2 days per week in the office.
Closing Date: Sunday 8th March 2026.
About the role
The Senior Manager Investigations role champions the delivery of proactive and preventive counter fraud activities in-conjunction with the UKRI Counter Fraud, Bribery, and Corruption Strategy.
The role will support UKRI's work to proactively identify common trends, risks and controls and identify areas where there may be a high risk of fraud. Occasionally, investigating specific issues which require immediate action and collaborate with the wider Risk and Assurance directorate to ensure UKRI operates within procedure throughout its risk and management assurance processes.
Security
As a minimum, due to the nature of this role, candidates must be eligible for clearance in line with UK National vetting guidelines and willing to undertake the process. Please indicate eligibility in the written submission. Candidates not meeting this level of clearance will not be considered. To qualify, applicants must have spent at least three of the last five years in the UK, with the two most recent years being consecutive and directly before submitting their application.
The level of clearance required is security check.
Success Factors
* Increased engagement with senior leaders, councils and committees on data informed counter fraud issues.
* Identification of trends and potential risks early on, guiding on mitigation and control improvements.
* Improved efficiency and effectiveness of fraud risk management and assurance processes.
* Implementation of standard process from across government and alignment to PSFA requirements.
* Targeted investigations into areas of high risk leading to improvement of UKRI control environment.
Management and Leadership Role
* Autonomy to undertake work in accordance with agreed objectives.
* Provide advice and recommendations to improve UKRI's overall management of risk and internal controls.
* Act as a visible member of the team, building strong and impactful relationships across a diverse group of collaborators internally and externally as appropriate.
* Apply the highest standards of integrity, maintaining confidentiality, and conducting yourself suitably in highly confidential and potentially politically sophisticated situations.
Your responsibilities
* Operate within the GovS013, UKRI assurance framework and counter fraud action plan to guarantee UKRI aligns with the organisational vision and strategic objectives.
* Ensure any proactive investigation processes operate optimally within corporate expectations, legal and regulatory requirements, and procedure.
* Assist the Management Assurance Lead to provide appropriate assurance support for the organisation to enable UKRI to set an appropriate risk appetite for counter fraud, balanced against UKRI's core funding objectives and delivery model.
* Ensure that risks and issues arising from investigations are identified and brought to the attention of key collaborators for action.
* Undertake specific internal reviews, projects or commissions as needed.
* Design and delivery of training, tailored to meet specific team requirements.
* Assist UKRI's responses to Counter Fraud Investigations by working closely with colleagues involved in the develop SMART action plans.
* Support evaluation of action closure evidence within the policies and process, challenging where needed.
* Engage with all relevant risk, investigations, counter fraud and assurance activities as needed to deliver a professional service to the organisation and a joined up and cohesive team approach.
About you
Key Skills
* Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, able to influence and build and maintain strong working relationships with a wide range of collaborators at all levels, both internally and externally.
* Enthusiastic, motivated, adaptable, proactive and able work flexibly in a changing environment and respond to shifting priorities.
* Insightful business awareness, understanding and analysing changing business context and landscape to assess and handle fraud risk, capitalise on emerging opportunities, make sound evidence-based judgements, promote the interests of UKRI and research and innovation.
* Ability to instil confidence within partners at the most senior levels, acting as a trusted advisor.
* Excellent attention to detail and good system based and general administration skills, including good experience of writing reports to a high standard.
Knowledge
Strong understanding of prevailing governance standards and public sector rules including but not limited to:
* Handling Public Money.
* Government Functional Standards.
* HM Treasury and Cabinet Office standards and rules, particularly in relation to: Corporate Governance; Risk management; Spending Controls; Regularity and Propriety. (conflicts of interest, gifts and hospitality, ethics)
Personal Specification
The below criteria will be scored during Shortlisting (S), Interview (I) or both (S&I).
Essential
* Accredited Counter Fraud Specialist (ACFS) or equivalent (with commitment to complete upon appointment). Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development. (S)
* Strong counter fraud experience, including supporting and implementing effective counter fraud and assurance management frameworks in an organisation. (S&I)
* Experience in successful delivery of counter fraud investigations. This experience will include review of data, informal interviews as part of a preliminary investigation and where appropriate, the conduct of interviews under caution in compliance with the Police and criminal Evidence Act (PACE) if the investigation is directed towards possible criminal action. (I)
* Ability to innovate and challenge established thinking in self and others, and to offer insights and ideas with practical application coupled with the ability to inspire change. (S&I)
* Experience of working effectively with internal and external agencies relevant to your work experience. (S)
Benefits
We recognise and value our employees as individuals and aim to provide a favourable pay and rewards package. UKRI are committed to supporting employees' development and promote a culture of continuous learning
A list of benefits below:
* 30 days holiday (in addition to 10.5 bank holidays and privilege days).
* Flexible working hours.
* An excellent defined salary pension scheme.
* Easily accessible public transport links/ free parking
* Excellent learning and development opportunities.
* Employee discounts and offers on retail and leisure activities.
Plus many more benefits and wellbeing initiatives that enable our employees to have a great work life balance
For further information on our benefits please see :
Benefits of working at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)
Please apply online, if you experience any issue applying, please contact
Please note, if you will require sponsorship to work in the UK, as part of your sponsorship application, you and any dependants travelling with you, will be required to pay costs directly to The Home Office for the application before you start your role with us. UKRI is normally able to reimburse some, or all of these fees after you have become an employee and this can be discussed with the Hiring Manager. For more information, please visit or contact
UKRI - UK Research and Innovation
UKRI is an organisation that brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England and Innovate UK. Together, we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision ensuring the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation.
Supporting some of the world's most exciting and challenging research projects, we develop and operate some of the most remarkable scientific facilities in the world. We are pushing the frontiers of human knowledge through fundamental research and delivering benefits for UK society and the economy through world-class research, skills and business-led innovation.
More information can be found at
Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit benefits of working for UKRI.
How we support EDI in the workforce
At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit 'How we support EDI in the workforce'.
Disability Confident Employer
As users of the disability confident scheme, any candidate who opts into the scheme and best meets the essential criteria, will be shortlisted for interview. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
How to apply
Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the 'experience' section of the application.
UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.
The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.